Monk bemoans lost opportunity

Swansea City manager Gary Monk was left with mixed emotions after his side played out a 2-2 draw with Champions Chelsea in their opening fixture at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Swansea showed that last season's exploits were no fluke as they came from behind twice, but Monk missed out on maximum points after Blues goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois received his marching orders for a foul on Bafetimbi Gomis mid-way through the second half.

Gomis scored the resulting penalty against debutant Asmir Begovic, but the champions held on for the draw with 10 men and Monk believes his side should have been more ruthless.

"If I'm going to be picky then, of course, I think we should have won," he told Saturday night football. "It's surprising to be able to say that.

"This time last year we came here and played well for 45 minutes and then we struggled. But today, for 90 minutes, we were excellent, as were the chances we created.

"Naturally the players – who came to the home of the champions – were undecided whether to go for the win or to stick with the draw in the in the last 10-15 minutes and I think we didn't quite push enough."

Having conceded first to an Oscar free-kick, Swansea rallied back with their new signing Andrew Ayew pulling them level just seconds before defender Federico Fernández deflected a cross from Willian into the back of his own net that Swans keeper Lukas Fabianski could do nothing about.

Despite being dissapointed not to have won, the draw gave Swansea their first league point at Stamford Bridge since 1980, which is a testament to their new attacking vigour.

"We planned to take Chelsea on. That has been the message to the players all pre-season," Monk added. "We have the attacking threats within our squad to be able to play and express ourselves.

"That was the intention today and that is what I have been promoting all pre-season, that we come and attack teams. I put those plans on the pitch and I thought we were magnificent today, everyone contributed.

"To come to a very difficult place, to an excellent side and to play the way we played, and to have the chances we created was great."